Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

In contrast, a spokesman for Mr Brandis said the meeting was constructive.

"It was a friendly and constructive meeting and it was agreed that consultations would continue," the spokesman said.

Last week, a handful of Islamic leaders refused to attend meetings with Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Sydney and Melbourne.

Mr Abbott said although the boycott was "foolish", there was a "Team Australia" spirit among those who did join in.

The federal government plans to spend $64 million on its anti-terror measures, including the creation of a new Australian Federal Police team to target returning foreign fighters and their supporters.

About 60 Australians are fighting in Iraq and Syria with groups like Islamic State, also known as ISIS, while another 100 are providing support from Australia.

Mr Abbott said the package didn't target any specific religion or community group.

The Muslim leaders later issued a joint statement reiterating their disappointment with the attorney-general's meeting.

They said the meeting left them questioning "whether the government is interested in serious consultation".

The group has urged civil liberty and human rights organisations to also press the government regarding the anti-terror legislation, which it believes will "significantly dilute important legal safeguards and civil liberties of all Australians".